Posting cabinet with file and posting surface



NOV- 26, 1968 c. M. FEATHERSTON 3,413,053

NET WITH FILE AND POSTING SURFACE Filed April 1o, 1967 POSTING CABI w.YN

M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,413,053 PQSTING CABINET WITH FILE AND POSTINGSURFACE Charles M. Featherston, Norwalk, Conn., assignor to Vue- FaxSystem Controls Corporation, Westbury, N.Y., a

corporation of New York Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,597 11 Claims.(Cl. 312-304) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This specification discloses animproved posting cabinet having t-he usual visible index card le butwith the le set back -far enough to provide a desk space or postingsurface in front of the tile. While the depth of the posting surface isample for efficient work space, the iile is still close enough to anoperator, sitting in front of the posting cabinet, to reach convenientlyeven the back cards in the file. The index tabs on spacer panelspreferably extend above t'he level of the posting surface `for goodvisibility, even when the spacer panels are sloping forward, and a coverthat extends over both the le and posting surface has undersideclearance for the tabs and provision `for locking at the front. Forextra capacity, the posting surface is made wider and files are locatedsideby-side at the back of the posting surface. The operator faces thework at all times and the cabinet is constructed to provide ample kneeroom under the posting surface.

Brief description of the invention This invention relates to postingcabinets. It is common practice for an operator to have a desk in frontof her and a tile at her side so that she has to turn each time sherefers to the le. This is necessary in order to get the lile closeenough to reach conveniently the rearward cards in the le. Thisinvention locates the tile facing the operator so that she can alwayswork facing forward. Constant turning to refer to cards is eliminated.By combining a desk space or posting surface, in front of the tile, witha file which has its depth correlated with the depth of the postingsurface, all `cards in the tile are within convenient reach.

Where the required capacity of the filing space would otherwise call fora depth of iile `greater than could be reached conveniently across theposting surface, this invention obtains the capacity by locating filesside-by-side along a wider posting surface and the operator can workwith one group of cards in front of the iile containing those cards, andsubsequently work with cards of the group in the second file at the partof the posting surface in front of the second file. IIf desired, twooperators can work at the same time at a wide cabinet having two les.The invention is constructed so that the posting surface does notinterfere with the visibility of the le cards, and it has been foundthat a posting surface with a 4fore-andaft depth of inches does notlocate the tile at an excessive distance from the operator, particularlywith provision for ample knee room under the posting surface so that theoperator can sit close to the cabinet.

The posting surface does not interfere with the closing `and locking ofthe le. A cover that extends over the le may also extend over theposting surface or may cover only the tile and leave the posting surfaceuncovered. The cover has means for locking it in closed position.

3,413,053 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 ICC Other objects, features andadvantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as thedescription proceeds.

Brief description ofthe drawing In the drawing, forming a part hereof,in which like reference characters indicate corersponding parts in allthe views:

'FIGURE 1 is an isometric view showing a posting cabinet made inaccordance with this invention;

lFIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of one of the visible index files used inthe posting cabinet shown in the other views; and

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 ofyFIGURE 3.

Detailed description of the inventoln The posting cabinet shown inFIGURE 1 includes a frame 10 which has its opposite sides connectedtogether by transversely extending elements including a top 12, frontand back panels 14, a shelf 16, 'and le supporting means 20. Theopposite sides of the frame 10 each include a front leg 24 and a backleg 25, connected together by side panels 26.

The various elements of the frame 10 can be welded together or connectedin any desired manner to obtain the necessary rigidity; but in thepreferred construction, the shelf 16 is supported at its opposite end bysupports 28 connected at opposite ends with the front and back legs. Theshelf 16 is connected to the supports 28 by fastening means such asscrews 30 which permit adjustment of the shelf 16 forward-and-aft alongthe supports 28 to obtain more knee room, if desired. T-he screws 30 canextend through different openings in the supports 28 for changing thelocation of the shelf 16.

The forward portion of the top 12 provides a posting surface 34. Thisposting surface is writing-desk height so that it can be usedconveniently by an operator sitting in a chair in front of the postingcabinet, with her knees under the front panel 14 and under the top 12.In practice, 10 inches has been found to be a convenient depth for theposting surface 34. Writing-desk height is approximately 30 to 32inches.

There are two openings 37 and 38 located sideby side in the top 12 atthe back of the posting surface 34. A relatively narrow area 40separates the openings 37 and 38 so as to provide for separate coversfor the tiles that iit in these openings 37 and 38, as will beexplained.

FIGURE 3 shows a visible index card le or box 44 having a front wall 46and a back wall 48, joined together by parallel side walls 50. The frontwall 46 back wall 48 converge toward one another as they extenddownwardly to a bottom 52 of the le. In the construction shown there areridges 54 on the fornt and back walls for supporting the file on thesupporting means 20 (FIG- URE 2). The le illustrated in FIG. 3 is merelyillustrative of visible index files.

The tile 44 ts the openings 37 and 38 (FIGURE 1) and when resting on thechannel 18, the upper end of the le -or box 44 is preferably flush withthe top 12 of the cabinet. In the construction shown in FIGURE 2, theaverage fore-and-aft depth of the le box 44 is slightly less than thatof the posting surface, but the cabinet can be made with somewhatgreater foreand-aft depth for the 3 le box 44 without having the back ofthe file out of reach of the operator and the invention has the verticaldepth of the file box and the fore-and-aft posting surface depthsubstantially equal to one another with some variation either way,depending upon the file capacity.

The file 44 has spacer panels 62 which are preferably made of sheetmetal and which have their lower ends extending into successive notchesof a sawtooth retainer 64 at the bottom of the file adjacent to each ofthe side walls. The separators 62 are held substantially parallel to oneanother by rollers 66 (FIGURE 3) located at each side of the separators62.

There 'are index tabs 70 at the top of intermediate guides 71, betweenthe separators 62, and these index tabs preferably extend above the topof the file and above the level of the top 12 in order to providemaximum visibility even when the separators to which they are connectedare sloping forward, as is the case with some of the separators in theright-hand le shown in FIGURE 1.

The posting cabinet has covers 74 and 75. The cover 75 will be describedin detail, but it will be understood that both covers are of similarconstruction. FIGURE 2 shows the cover 75 in section. When in openposition, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, the cover 75 extendssubstantially vertically and downward at the back kof lthe postingcabinet. Its upper end extends a substantial distance above the level ofthe top 12. There is a handle 82 at the front and center of the cover.

The cover 75 is connected with the frame of the posting cabinet by asliding hinged connection consisting of a block 84 on a bracket 83attached to one end of a hinge 89. The other end of the hinge is securedto the main frame of the posting cabinet. This block 84 extends into achannel 90 in the side of the cover 75.

There are similar blocks 84 and channels 90 at both sides of the cover75. These blocks 84 and the channels 90 permit the cover 75 to move upand down and forward-and-aft, and leaves it free to swing about the axisof the hinge 89 while preventing transverse displacement of the cover.This sliding hinge connection is diagrammatic and the block is longenough to prevent the cover from sliding down beyond the position shownin FIG- URE 2.

The cover 75 extends far enough above the axis of the hinge 89 to permitthe cover to be swung easily in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 2 -bypulling forward on the handle 82. The cover is swung clockwise as it ispulled up and it moves into the closed position indicated by dottedlines in FIGURE 2. It will be noted that the underside of the cover 75is recessed to provide clearance for the index tabs 70 which extendabove the level of the top 12.

Each of the covers 74 and 75 (FIGURE 2) has locking means including alock 92 on the cover with a stud 93 in position to engage in a lockrecess 94 in the to-p 12. Keyholes 96 open through the front of thecover. Thus each of the les can be closed and locked separately from theother le. When shorter covers are provided, reaching across the filesonly, the recesses 94 are in the top at the back of the posting surface.

The invention has been illustrated as embodied in a double postingcabinet; but features of it can be used in single posting cabinet or incabinets having more than two files. Other changes and `modificationscan be made without departing from the invention as defined in theclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A posting cabinet including, in combination, a frame havingtransversely extending elements extending between the sides thereof andconnecting together opposite sides of the frame, the sides of the frameincluding front and -back legs for supporting the cabinet from a flooror other supporting surface, a horizontal posting surface atwriting-desk height from the oor and extending across the forwardportion of the frame, a visible card index tile box rearward of theposting surface and with its upper end at substantially the same levelas the posting surface, and supporting means for the box below the levelof the posting surface, the transversely extending elements beinglocated in positions to leave ample knee room under the posting surfacefor an operator seated in front of the posting cabinet.

2. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by a level topsurface, the forward portion of which is the posting surface, the topsurface having an opening therein into which the visible card index filebox fits, and the transversely extending elements of the frame includingthe supporting means for the file box located under said opening inposition to support the visible card index file box.

3. The posting cabinet described in claim 2 characterized by there beingtwo openings in the top surface sideby-side and at substantially thesame distance from the front of the top surface, and there being twoVisible card index le boxes, one for each of the openings and bothsupported by the transversely extending supporting means located underthe opening.

4. The yposting cabinet described in claim 2 characterized by thevisible card index le box having front and back walls that convergetoward one another toward the bottom of the file box so that the le boxis of less foreand-aft depth at its lower end, outwardly andtransversely extending ridges on said front and yback walls, thetransversely extending means that support the file having surfaces onwhich the ridges rest, the knee room in front of the lower part of theforward wall of the le box `being unobstructed, and the forward wall ofthe le box sloping rearwardly as it extends downwardly to increase theknee room under the top of the cabinet.

5. The posting cabinet described in claim 2 characterized by another ofthe transversely extending elements being an element at an intermediatelocation between the front and back of the cabinet and spaced above thefloor by a distance less than one half of the height of the postingsurface above the floor, said transversely extending element at theintermediate location being adjustable forward-and-aft.

6. The posting cabinet described in claim 5 characterized by thetransversely extending element at the intermediate level beng a shelf.

7. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by thevertical depth of the file box being substantially equal to thefore-and-aft depth of the posting surface of the cabinet.

8. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by a rigidcover that extends across the full foreand-aft depth of both the fileand the posting surface, sliding hinge connections at opposite sides ofthe cover -on which the cover swings and slides between an openposition, in which it extends vertically downward entirely behind theposting cabinet with only a portion of the front end of the cover abovethe level of the posting surface and the top of the le, and a closedposition in which it extends horizontally across the full depth of boththe le and the posting surface.

9. The posting cabinet described in claim 8 characterized by the coverhaving its underside recessed for providing clearance for tabs at theupper ends of separator partitions in the le, a lock for cover includinga part at the front end of the cover and a cooperating part at theforward end of the posting surface.

10. The posting cabinet described in claim 1 characterized by theposting cabinet being wider than two visible card index file boxes, twosuch file boxes located side-by-side at the back of the posting surface,each of the file boxes having a vertical depth substantially equal tothe fore-and-aft depth of the posting surface.

11. The posting cabinet described in claim 10 characterized by the topof the frame -being wider than two 3,413,053 5 6 visible card index lileboxes, two such le boxes located face, a handle at the front end of eachcover, and separate side-by-side at the back of the posting surface, adifferent locking means for each cover. rigid cover for each of the leboxes, each of the covers, when in closed position, extending across thefull depth of both the le box and the posting surface in frontReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS of the le box, sliding hingeconnections between each 1,488,319 3/1924 .De Canio et aL 10g 26 of thecovers and the frame of the cabinet, each cover 3,164,430 1/1955 Beem et11. 312 293 X when in open position, being substantially vertical and3,169,495 2/ 1965 OBrien 10S-.26 located entirely in a positionextending down the back 3,178,029 4/ 1965 Meyers 211-50 X of the cabinetybehind the file lboxes but with its front 10 3,294,465 12/1966` Blodeeet al. 312-297 end at a substantial distance above the hinge connec-3,346,318 10/ 1967 PrOPSt 312-330 tions of the top of the frame, leboxes and posting sur- JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner.

